Chapter Three

A Mutual Understanding

Your heart began to be scorched, and there was a smell of it.

It was the end of your dream, and the start of everything…

-Moments by Ayumi Hamasaki

Makoto's eyes went wide, her expression twisting with anger while the rest of the girls all bore similar looks of affront and wonder, all except Rei who stared off pointedly to the side. The raven haired beauty did not look Michiru's way, but the rest of them could not take their eyes off the brazen girl who strolled so easily down that stone path. Her demeanor was proud, her stance unwavering, unapologetic and, it was infuriating. Yet more-so, it was utterly baffling. What was she doing there?

"Hello Haruka." Michiru offered in a perfectly friendly tone as she stopped just in front of her, undeterred by the other woman's firm expression.

"Whore." Makoto uttered bluntly from the background, her words dripping venom and her eyes shooting emerald daggers.

"Mako-chan..." Ami began breathlessly, her sad blue eyes locked upon her fellow water wielding soldier, whom she had once admired so greatly.

"Shut up Ami-chan." Ami didn't flinch, she knew Makoto didn't mean to be so cold. She was just so upset, they all were.

Michiru's eyes flicked briefly from Haruka, locking on a rigid Makoto, who's fists were clenched so tightly it was a wonder blood wasn't dripping from her palms. The beautiful woman gave only a careless smirk and a flip of her wavy locks from her shoulder. She disregarded the brunette entirely and turned back to Haruka.

Makoto sprung as did the other girls. Minako knocked a squealing Artemis from her lap as she extended herself off the porch and latched onto Makoto's right arm, hanging in midair with only the porch and her friend to hold her up. Ami took hold of the girl's left, having dived right off the porch, she took a firm stance beside Makoto. Rei held the grumbling, struggling girl around the middle of her torso and, leaned all her body weight backward to prevent the soldier—whose temper was just as erratic as the thunder she commanded—from moving forward with her desire to rip off Michiru's head.

"Let me go!" She demanded gruffly but the other soldiers' holds did not relinquish and, in fact strengthened as she squirmed harder. "I'll kill the little tramp, it's all her fault!" Makoto tried to reason.

"Mako-chan please stop." Minako whimpered.

"She's not worth it." Rei agreed, glaring over Makoto's shoulder at Michiru, who seemed vaguely amused with the little display.

"Like hell she isn't!" Makoto shouted as she lunged again and forced Ami and Rei two steps forward while dragging Minako from the porch. "Chibiusa's gone because of you! You and that prick; are you proud? Huh? You not only destroyed lives, you took one too!"

Makoto continued to yell, trying to get a rise out of Michiru, but the woman was strangely unmoved. There had always been a certain degree of coldness to Michiru, Haruka had known that well. But always, always there had been warmth in her blue eyes. Always they had been so welcoming. But, as Haruka stood there and stared into those depths they were as chilly as the deep sea she ruled. Where had the light gone? How long had it been missing? Why hadn't Haruka noticed it sooner?

Once again all of those questions ran through her mind, just as they had that night she had found her lover wrapped in the covers of Mamoru's bed. Was this really the woman she had loved for so many years, had devoted herself to so loyally? Had once betrayed her princess just to be with?

"What do you want Michiru?" She questioned, completely disregarding the fuss going on behind her.

Michiru arched a slender brow. "Now what kind of greeting is that?"

"The only one I can offer you." Haruka answered coldly.

"Now Haruka, are these dramatics really necessary?" She sighed exasperatedly, mockingly and Haruka tensed. "I expected this front the children," She gave a nod toward the other girls which prompted a new slew of shouted insults from Makoto. "But not from you."

"And what exactly did you expect from me Michiru?"

The woman puckered her lips agitatedly. "A bit of understanding. Honestly Haruka, you had to see this coming; we've been growing apart for a while now." It was then that the blonde looked away from the woman she had once cherished so dearly, denying the statement though aware of it's truth. "You knew there was someone else, I could see that when you looked at me."

"But Mamoru?" Haruka shook her head, turning back to Michiru, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice and her saddened face. "How could you Michiru?"

She bowed her head and Haruka's heart leapt with renewed hope. She prayed, inwardly begged that the female would finally show her a glimpse of remorse, a peak of humanity.

But her head rose bearing such a breezy and condescending grin that Haruka's heart shattered before her past-lover even spoke. "I always did like popular men."

"Yes, I remember." Haruka nodded, that frozen look back on her beautiful face. "Leave Michiru."

Haruka turned her back on the woman, feeling hallow, like she would fall to pieces with even the most minor impact. When she turned her eyes fell upon the other girls, her head tilting to one side as she observed the curious bunch. The others had somehow forced Makoto back to the ground and were all working tirelessly to keep her there. Though the overzealous girl had long since ceased in fighting them. They didn't want to take any chances apparently.

Rei was on top of Makoto's back, her arms having coiled around the other girls neck loosely but still foreboding, as if threatening to strangle her if she continued her tirade. Ami straddled the back of the girl's thighs, her palms pushing down hard on her slenderly muscled calves assumedly to keep her from kicking. Minako controlled her hands, taking a hard grasp upon Makoto's wrists and forcing them to the ground, while Artemis sat atop her disheveled brown locks, craning his neck over to stare into her annoyed green eyes offering words of comfort. Setsuna was still standing on the porch, she had never moved from it. She stayed glued to her pillar, half hidden behind it as she left her back to the group, her arms crossed and her head bowed. She was completely unwilling to associate herself with the antics or the drama. That was so like her.

The scene was positively comical but, Hatuka could find no humor inside herself. There was absolutely nothing left inside her, and she simply stared with indifference for a brief moment before Michiru called her attention back.

"I thought you wanted to know why I came here."

Haruka turned first her head and then her entire body as Michiru reached into her powder blue colored jacket. What she withdrew and held out to Haruka, gave the blonde woman pause, confusion flashing in her eyes as she stared at it.

"I won't be needing this anymore."

Haruka took the object and held it close to her, rolling it experimentally in her palm, unable to believe or perhaps accept what it was. It was Michiru's transformation pen.

"So this isn't just goodbye to our relationship then?" Haruka's fingers curled tightly over the pen, squeezing it firmly in her hand. Her cool and collected voice gave no indication of the hurt and rage boiling in her veins.

"Our mission was to guard our world from outside threats, once there were no more we turned to protecting our princess to ensure the future fate had promised us." Michiru's nonchalant tone of voice crawled beneath Haruka's skin uncomfortably. "But what's a princess without her prince? Now that I have him, there's no need to protect-"

The sound that resonated across the shrine was in reality soft but, it's boom vibrated through the minds of the girls. They all went quiet, silently gaping with saucer eyes and parted lips—even Setsuna turned her head to stare in disbelief—but none were as shocked as Michiru. A hand cupped her swiftly reddening cheek as she turned her head back in Haruka's direction slowly, to glare hatefully at the woman. She had slapped her.

"Leave Michiru." Her voice shook with rage as Haruka drew her trembling hand back. Even she couldn't believe that she had struck Michiru, never had she dreamed that she ever would, but she had. It was in that moment that it truly dawned upon her; her relationship was over.

Before then, she had been walking around in a haze, ever since she had wondered out of Mamoru's apartment shortly after Usagi without saying a word. She had been lost in what felt like it was just a very real, very bad dream. But the disdain Michiru directed at her with those beautiful sea foam eyes was more clear to Haruka then anything. An agonizing sense of reality washed over the woman, as the girl she had once believed to be her soul-mate turned her back on her with a hiss of foul language Haruka had never heard Michiru use.

She stalked off, back up the stone pathway and every step she took, every click of those heels stabbed into Haruka's broken heart, deeper and deeper. She wasn't sure how long she stood there watching Michiru's retreat, only that when she felt Setsuna come up beside her and place a hand upon her shoulder, Michiru's figure was gone. Haruka's head turned slightly, her eyes staring blankly into the dark, stoic face of her friend, as Setsuna's other hand formed over Haruka's which was angled in front of her. Setsuna's slender fingers slid against Haruka's, easing the stiff digits loose around the pen they held to pull it delicately from her grasp. Haruka's stomach turned as she felt the metal, warmed by her hand, leave the touch of her skin.

She felt Setsuna squeeze her shoulder and, Haruka's limb jerked to bounce off the touch as she turned her head away. "I'm fine." Setsuna didn't argue or question, not even when Haruka began to swiftly make her own exit. When Makoto and the other girls—having finally gotten off the ground—moved forward to chase her, Setsuna extended a single arm to stop them.

"Leave her be." She said quietly, withdrawing her arm to tuck the transformation pen securely into the pocket of her beige slacks.

"She shouldn't be alone." Minako argued and Ami nodded in agreement.

"Yes, she needs somebody..."

"What she needs..." Setsuna began as she turned and headed back for the porch and her pillar where she could think. "Is somebody who understands." She paused to look back at the other girls. "Do any of you truly know her pain?"

The other girls withdrew their arguments in deject, following Setsuna back to the porch. All but Makoto who stood and watched Haruka's blonde mane disappear down the steps with an indescribable ache in her heart. The source of which, she could not pinpoint.

Birds chirped their pretty songs from their perches in the tree just outside the window, their merriment making the forlorn blonde feel cold inside. How could they find such cheer in a world darkened by the loss of one of its brightest stars? Usagi didn't understand it and, if she could have managed to feel anything but sorrow as she lay there upon her daughter's bed, clutching her nightgown tightly to her chest, it would have angered her. But much as she wanted to rage at those stupid birds, at that bright sunlight that mocked her with it's radiant warmth, Usagi couldn't even manage to get out of that bed.

Once she had woken up to find that the events of the previous night hadn't all just been one terrible nightmare, Usagi's day had been spent sobbing and shaking. She had barricaded herself in that attic bedroom, refusing to come down for breakfast, lunch or even the pie her mother had baked to try to lure her from that room and, in turn her depression. But even the young woman's intense love for everything sweet wasn't enough to offer her any sort of comfort. Usagi didn't want pie or cookies or cupcakes. She would have vowed to never consume another grain of sugar if it would make things go back to normal. If such a miniscule sacrifice would have given her the future that was supposed to have been hers. If it would have brought Chibiusa back.

"Are you sure you don't want something to eat Usagi-chan?" Luna's voice was gentle as she posed the question, seated upon the bed behind Usagi, close to her head. "I could sneak you something from the kitchen. You wouldn't even have to get out of bed."

"I'm not hungry." Usagi mumbled in a voice hoarse from crying.

Her cheeks were red, her eyelids raw and, her limbs stiff from being curled up in one position for so long but, Usagi didn't care. She could feel hunger gnawing at her stomach, but felt like if she tried to eat she would vomit. She didn't want food, she didn't want to move, all she wanted was to lay there in misery and mourn the loss of everything she had once cherished. Everything that had been promised to her and then cruelly wrenched away just when it was within her grasp.

"Usagi-chan..." Luna began slowly, carefully. "Wouldn't it be better to get up and try to find a way to fix things?" Luna reflected, nudging the back of one of Usagi's buns with her nose. "Nothing will get solved with you just laying here. We need to find a way to make things right."

Usagi's eyes closed tightly and, she shifted her head to press her face into the pillow. "Go away Luna." She sighed, her voice muffled by the fabric.

"But Usagi-chan-"

"Go away!" She shouted. She felt the feline stir on the bed before, what seemed like reluctantly, she jumped from it.

She felt guilty for yelling at Luna, but the feline just didn't understand, no one did. The pain she felt was unlike anything she had ever experienced. The emptiness and the hopelessness. She didn't know how to deal with it, she didn't know what she could do to fix it. It just wasn't the same as it had been before...

Usagi heard the door to the attic creak open and assumed that Luna had left. But the soft thud of feet she heard ascending the stairs told instead of yet someone else coming to bother her. It was probably her mother.

Usagi groaned into her pillow. "Go away." But the footsteps didn't cease.

Her mother continued up the stairs until she was in the room but, Usagi ignored her, refusing to turn over and acknowledge that she was even there. She hoped her mother would get the hint but, instead of going back the way she came, she moved forward until Usagi felt the other side of the bed cave beneath the weight of another person. Anger ignited in the pit of her hallowed stomach. Why couldn't they just leave her alone?

"Why don't you understand?" She screamed, her throat scratching with the effort as she uncurled her form and whipped around on the bed to send her messy pigtails flying. But Usagi's words tripped on her tongue and she swallowed them back; it wasn't her mother sitting on the bed with her. "Haruka-san." She breathed more calmly, laying her head back to the pillow as the other woman stared at her.

She nodded a greeting but didn't say anything to Usagi, she simply swung her legs onto the bed and lay down comfortably on her back beside her princess. Usagi watched the other woman in wonder, staring quietly as she lay there with her hands casually clasped over her stomach, her sharp dark blue eyes staring at the ceiling. 'Why is she here?' Usagi wondered, and it wasn't until Haruka turned her head to cast that deep navy gaze Usagi's way that the young girl realized it; Haruka understood at least some of her pain because she felt it too.

Haruka looked right into Usagi's eyes and the young woman felt something inside her stir, felt emotion begin to rush over her again. She felt like she was drowning in it, she had to let it out before it swept her into it's depths and suffocated her.

"She's gone." She whispered in a voice that trembled pathetically and Haruka only nodded. She didn't look upon her harshly for being weak, or tell her to get up and do something about it.

"I know." Was all she said and though her expression was even, there was a softness in her eyes that made Usagi want to latch onto her.

She did. "It's not like it was before." She said as her hands curled up between them so that both her arms could wrap desperately around one of Haruka's. "I-It's not- There's noth-nothing to fight." Usagi went on, her voice breaking and renewed tears streaking white streams down her rosy cheeks. "There's no-no way to g-get her back. No-no easy fix. No b-bad guy to-to defeat to make it better!" She hiccuped and dropped her head onto Haruka's shoulder, prompting the handsome blonde soldier to extend a hand and place it soothingly to the back of Usagi's head. "I-I don't know wha-what to do!" Usagi cried out and Haruka's fingers stroked gently against her hair.

"You don't need to do anything right now." Haruka said quietly and Usagi clung harder to her in response, pressing her face toward the crook of the other female's neck as her body quaked with her cries. "We'll find a way to fix it later; for now you can just cry if you need to Princess."

'Thank you Haruka-san.' The words of gratitude flashed through her mind but, Usagi could not form them. Once the tears had started again she couldn't find the strength or even the will to stop them as the sun set, disappearing under the windowsill beside the bed.

An uncharacteristic darkness had settled over the little shrine the Sailor Soldiers had come to treat as their headquarters. It was where problems were analyzed, where strategies were discussed and, where decisions were made. But that night it was little more then an intricate wooden house that encased the girls in it's lonely corridors. They were together but, in such closeness felt a wide-spread distance. They'd lost three comrades, they were missing two and, without the wholeness of their group to complete them the remaining soldiers could feel their team fracturing.

Makoto sat in the middle of Rei's bed, lost in the booming comfort of her headphones, her back turned on the other girls as she held her knees up under her chin. Rei had sprawled herself onto the floor to stare blankly at her ceiling, the fan of her long black tresses acting as a pillow for Minako who lay beside her. She occupied one hand stroking Artemis' head as he lay curled up on her stomach but, the other lay at her side, her pinky curled soothingly around Rei's.

Ami looked at the two girls as they stared distantly at the same spot on Rei's ceiling then, at Makoto as she bobbed her head and sang along silently to whatever song was playing from her Ipod. She'd been standing in the same spot by Rei's door since they'd entered the room and, was only just starting to feel the tingling pain in her feet begging her to sit down. But, Ami didn't know where to sit. Rei and Minako had each other, Makoto had her music but, Ami could find no comfort awaiting her in the books she so loved to read.

She padded slowly from the room and, none of the other girls seemed to notice as she slid the door shut behind her, welcoming the cool breeze that lifted her short blue locks. The night was quiet, with only the light sounds of crickets to break through the darkness. Her bare feet padded on the porch's wooden floor as Ami walked the perimeter of the shrine, letting the painful knot in her stomach carry her forward.

She reached the front of the shrine and, looked out toward where she had known she'd find Setsuna; seated at the very top of the stone stairs that led to the shrine and, staring at the sky where the moon should have been. Even just looking at the back of her head Ami knew the woman was deep in thought, Setsuna always was and, she was reluctant to disturb her. But her bare feet led her forward across the stone path until she was standing behind the other female. Ami watched the back of Setsuna's head, the way her long hair flowed down her back and swayed in the breeze.

"The sky looks lonely without the moon." Setsuna's voice lifted into the night and became the air that surrounded them. Ami's eyes rose toward the stars that gleamed defiantly through the masking lights of Tokyo.

"Even with the stars to keep it company." Ami confirmed and she knew Setsuna was smiling gently.

She moved to sit beside the woman and, tilted her head just so to cast her gaze through her bangs. She found Setsuna still staring toward the sky. Ami had always sensed an ever-existing sadness eminating from the woman. Her eyes, always searching for knowledge and truth, could never have overlooked the glint of sadness that always shone in Setsuna's eyes. So of course Ami had seen the way it had evaporated whenever Chibiusa came around.

The two had been close, closer then perhaps anyone could really understand. For Setsuna—the Sailor Soldier destined for a life of solitude and loneliness—Chibiusa had been the first ray of light to shine into her world. For a Soldier, for a girl who had nothing, that first loving glow meant everything. Ami understood that, Ami could see that and so, though Setsuna's stand-offish nature might never show it, Ami knew the woman was in pain.

She lifted a hand and draped it delicately over Setsuna's shoulders. Her shawl of comfort offered, Ami kept her eyes cast toward the vast and lonely sky. She felt Setsuna's head come to rest on her shoulder and, though she made no sound, Ami could feel Setsuna's sorrowed tears drifting in the nighttime breeze that surrounded them.

A lazy finger traced it's way through the wave of a teal tress as Michuru pursed her lips disdainfully. Her cheek still stung from the brunt of Haruka's hand and, more then that, her blood boiled in her veins. How dare Haruka slap her. How dare she hold herself so highly as to pass judgment on Michiru. Who did she think she was acting so high and mighty?

"Arrogant bitch." Michiru grumbled, her tone uncharacteristically barbaric as she stalked from the elevator. She headed down the hall of the apartment building, only to find a disheveled Mamoru waiting for her outside his door.

"Where did you go?" He demanded. "You were gone a long time." His limbs were trembling but, not from rage. The man looked like a terrified puppy left behind by his mother, lost and confused. His blue eyes were wide, his jet black hair a tossed mess around his face; that handsome face where lines beyond his years were beginning to crease his forehead.

"Calm yourself My Beloved." She cooed in a voice that was sickeningly gentle, as if she were speaking to a child. Her hand reached out so that her palm could cup his cheek, instantly stilling the tremor in his body. "I merely paid a visit to my old comrades."

Mamoru's face twisted in agony. "Usako..." Michuru's nails dug into his cheek at the tender way he spoke Usagi's pet name, making Mamoru wince and hiss from the pain.

"She wasn't there My Beloved." She spoke the words in a way that was most matter-of-fact, but there was something icy in the way her eyes bore into Mamoru's. "I imagine she's locked herself away in her room, agonizing over the loss of everything she's ever wanted." This made Michuru's expression brighten cruelly.

"Michiru..." Mamoru groaned and turned his face away from the woman's touch as if scorched by it. Michiru looked upon him, puckering her lips in thoughtful pity. He looked like such a tortured soul and, she could tell that his guilt was causing him a great deal of pain. Pitiful. But she'd rid him of the pesky demons which tormented him soon enough.

"Forgive me My Beloved, I will hold my tongue on the matter." She smiled more sweetly at him, knowing he preferred that side of her. "But you know it was all necessary don't you?" She asked innocently as she laced an arm inside his and, ushered him back into his apartment.

"Why though? Why did we have to hurt Usako so much?" He challenged earnestly. Michiru bit the inside of her cheek; that name he called the Princess, that cute little term of endearment, it really raked at her nerves. Why didn't he sound as enraptured when he spoke her name?

"She had to know her place." Her blunt tone made Mamoru's steps cease and, Michuru sighed as she released him and made to plant herself upon his couch. "Have you lost faith in me, dear Mamoru?" Her sea foam colored eyes shimmered, swimming with sadness as they gazed up at him. Mamoru crumpled to the ground in front of her shaking his head wildly and, gripped the hem of her skirt above her knee.

"No, never Michiru." His head bowed to her causing a satisfied smile to tug up the corners of her fine lips. "I'm just so... so torn. I'm so confused. It hurts so much. Should it hurt this much?" His shoulders quaked making Michiru offer a quiet sigh. Her fingers ran through his short black hair soothingly, offering comforting shushes as his tears rolled over her knees.

"The pain will pass My Beloved, you just need to give it time." She spoke so gently as she reached for him, her hands enveloping the back of his head to bring his face to her bosom. "It was all necessary to make our dream a reality. You'll have your Princess again, I promise." Mamoru sobbed quietly and, Michiru smiled fondly as her head came to rest on top of his, veiling him behind her curled hair. "You'll hold her tightly as she ushers in the new world and, we will all receive what destiny has promised us."

Michiru's eyes stared off, clouding as she spoke. "We will all get what we deserve."

If I could flow like the wind I would reach you.

If I could shine like a moon I would keep shining on you.

I'll be anything if it can stop you from being seized with fear.

-Moments by Ayumi Hamasaki

Chapter three hurah! I know what y'all are thinking... "Michiru, you bitch!" And if you're not thinking that... what's wrong with you? I know things are moving kind of slow right now but, I'm just building it up. Hopefully this chapter is intriguing enough to catch your attention though. Are you wondering what the hell is going on? What the hell is going to happen? If you're not... I've failed... :C If you are, then yay! :D Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and will stick with me until the very end! This story is my pride and joy so I hope you all will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Review Please!